CLAREMONT’S NEW MAYOR, JOE LYONS, HITS the GROUND RUNNING/PAGE 4 T Ourclaremontier Friday, March 21, 2014 U One Dollar C Claremont-Courier.Com
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CLAREMONT’S NEW MAYOR, JOE LYONS, HITS THE GROUND RUNNING/PAGE 4 t ourClaremontier Friday, March 21, 2014 u One dollar C claremont-courier.com COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff Claremont police corporals Jacob Tillman and James Hughes confer with Detective Robert Ewing, center, while CRYING WOLF? patrolling Claremont High School on Thursday. Graffiti found in a boys restroom on campus indicated that a student had planned to “bring a gun” to school. While police determined the threat wasn’t credible, how- Claremont police deem gun threat at ever, extra precautions were taken to ensure student safety. Visits by local news stations incited fear in the Claremont High School “not credible” community, causing about half of high school parents to keep their children home from school . / PAGE 3 t t t Things get real sweet at the Pie Festival/ PAGE 12 The wait is over. Bardot opens at Harvard Square/PAGE 5 t POLICE BLOTTER/ PAGE 4 LETTERS/ PAGE 2 Wait just a second and we’ll give you the facts. SPORTS/ PAGE 26 CALENDAR/ PAGE 18 Visit our website: claremont-courier.com t Claremont COURIER/Friday, March 21, 2014 2 READERS’ COMMENTS ADVENTURES IN HAIKU Will America survive Obama? —Closed out two wars; Dear Editor: –Established diplomacy rather than Morning cup of kitsch: 1420 N. Claremont Blvd., Ste. 205B military bullying as the best method of Claremont, CA 91711 When President Obama took office in More Matisse, plisse. Room for Klimt, (909) 621-4761 2008, he inherited two wretched wars and solving foreign-relations problems; Klee, and Kahlo—ah. —Brought dignity and world-wide re- Office hours: Monday-Friday the worst recession in 80 years. Through —D.J. Kraemer 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. his policies in the last six years, Mr. spect to the presidency. Obama has: Mr. Obama has achieved all this while Owner —Rescued major financial institutions contending with opposition politicians Haiku submissions should reflect upon life Janis Weinberger whose shameful goal was to cause, if they or events in Claremont. Please email entries from a catastrophe of their own making, to [email protected]. thus keeping the recession from tumbling could, the failure of America’s first black Publisher and Owner president. Peter Weinberger into a full-blown depression; [email protected] —Prevented the collapse of America's Now comes Jack Sultze to rhetorically auto industry; wonder if America will survive Obama. Editor —Brought health care to millions who Yes, Mr. Sultze, it will (see above). GOVERNING Kathryn Dunn lacked it, an achievement that has eluded Harrison Stephens [email protected] presidents for more than half a century; Claremont OURSELVES Newsroom Agendas for city meetings are avail- able at www.ci.claremont.ca.us City Reporter City aims to tackle big issues Beth Hartnett Monday, March 24 [email protected] Wilderness Park Master Plan with community meetings Community Meeting Education Reporter/Obituaries rounding the city’s potential water sys- Taylor Hall, 6 p.m. Sarah Torribio ity officials are seeking commu- nity input for the creation of the tem acquisition. At 6:30 p.m. at Taylor [email protected] Hall, 1775 N. Indian Hill Blvd., council Community and Human Services Com- CClaremont Hills Wilderness mission Special Parks, Hillsides, and Sports Reporter Master Plan. A meeting will be held on members will discuss an environmental Alex Forbess report evaluating the proposed water Utilities Committee Meeting Monday, March 24 at 6 p.m. at Taylor Council Chambers, 6:30 p.m. [email protected] Hall to hear local feedback addressing system acquisition. The council will also take a vote to Special meeting to discuss increase in Photo Editor/Staff Photographer hillside usage, trail facilities, parking and city’s santiation collection fees. environmental impacts. All are invited. begin eminent domain proceedings for Steven Felschundneff the attainment of the city’s water system. [email protected] Taylor Hall is located at 1775 N. In- Tuesday, March 25 dian Hill Blvd. For more information, With a majority vote, the city would Reporter At Large adopt a resolution of necessity, setting City Council call (909) 399-5490 or visit Taylor Hall, 6:30 p.m. Pat Yarborough www.ci.claremont.ca.us. into motion a six-month deadline to file an eminent domain lawsuit. Public com- Re: Water system acquisition. **** Calendar Editor ment is invited on both topics. Take a Jenelle Rensch he water talk continues on Tues- Wednesday, March 26 look at the environmental study or full [email protected] day, March 25 with the Clare- Architectural Commission council agenda on the city’s website, mont City Council slated to take Cancelled Back Page T www.ci.claremont.ca.us. Sammy action on two significant issues sur- [email protected] Production Ad Design Jenelle Rensch Page Layout Kathryn Dunn, Jenelle Rensch Website Claremont Peter Weinberger ourier C claremont-courier.com Advertising Advertising Director verb Mary Rose [email protected] 1. to make or become better Classified Editor “The Claremont COURIER website continues to improve Jessica Gustin [email protected] by enhancing the reader’s experience.” Business Administration Yes, the best community newspaper website in the Office Manager/ state of California keeps getting better. Legal Notices —New smartphone website, improved search Vickie Rosenberg [email protected] tools, week in photos gallery, open access for classifieds, daily news stories and more! claremont-courier.com Billing/Accounting Manager Dee Proffitt Distribution/Publications Tom Smith [email protected] The Claremont Courier (United States Postal Service 115-180) is published once weekly by the Courier Graphics Corporation at 1420 N. Claremont Blvd., Suite 205B, Claremont, California 91711-5003. The Courier is a newspaper of general circulation as defined by the political code of the state of California, entered as periodicals matter September 17, 1908 at the post office at Claremont, California under the act of March 3, 1879. Periodicals postage Circulation/Subscriptions is paid at Claremont, California 91711-5003. Single copy: One dollar. Annual subscription: $52.00. Send all remittances and correspondence about sub- [email protected] scriptions, undelivered copies and changes of address to the Courier, 1420 N. Claremont Blvd., Suite 205B, Claremont, California 91711-5003. Tele- phone: 909-621-4761. Copyright © 2014 Claremont Courier one hundred and sixth year, number 11 3 CITY NEWS Claremont COURIER/Friday, March 21, 2014 Scrawled words, controversial flag spark fear, anger at CHS Claremont Police Corporal Jacob Tillman keeps an eye out while patrolling Claremont High School on Thursday. etween a gun scare and a contro- versial incident involving the Con- Bfederate flag, Claremont High School has had an eventful week. On Wednesday, graffiti was found scrawled in a boys restroom in the 800 quad of the CHS campus in- dicating that a student planned to bring a gun to school the following day. The threat did not target a particular COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff student or group of students, nor were any faculty or Claremont Police Detective Robert Ewing watches as students and faculty walk between classes on Thursday staff members mentioned. at Claremont High School. Four police officers were patrolling the campus in response to threatening graffiti The Claremont Police Department has determined found in a boys restroom the day prior. that the graffiti does not represent a credible threat. Given today’s heightened wariness of school violence, It is not clear how many shots—snapped by a photog- however, the situation has received significant media rapher standing on an elevated scissor lift—included attention. The story was aired on KCAL9 and on the flag. ABC7 Eyewitness News, among other TV news pro- When the photographer encouraged the students to grams. blow off some steam in a “silly shot,” most of the kids At 8 a.m. on Thursday, Claremont High School contented themselves with hand gestures or funny Principal Brett O’Connor emailed a statement to CHS faces. Several, however, hoisted the Confederate flag. parents, which was also forwarded to the COURIER. At no time did the three CHS administrators supervis- Out of “an abundance of caution,” he said, there ing the photo spot the Confederate flag, according to would be an increased police presence as well as addi- Mr. O’Connor. tional school staff and district administrators stationed The situation was brought to the administration’s at- on campus throughout the day. tention when a few “upset and offended” students no- It was evident during a 9 a.m. visit to the campus tified them after the shoot. They acted quickly, that many parents were heeding the adage, “It is better according to a release sent to the CHS community as to be safe than sorry.” With many students kept home well as the COURIER last Friday. The administrators for the day, the usually crowded parking lot was half contacted the parents and guardians of the students empty. A few of the vacant spots were occupied by holding the Confederate flag that same day “to inform two news vans. them of what had occurred and that at investigation The Claremont Police Department emphasizes that would follow.” the safety of students, staff and faculty is “a primary The students involved have been counseled and faced consequences, according to the release. Another concern.” Yesterday, four officers, one on a bicycle, Photo special to the COURIER spent the day patroling the CHS premises. student, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that A group of Claremont High School seniors holds a “While we do not believe the threat is credible, we the participating boys received a punishment under the Confederate flag during the traditional senior class still remind everyone to be ever-vigilant in their daily category of “disruption,” which ranges from a deten- photo at CHS on Wednesday, March 12.